By 2080 global warming will force people to move to Siberia

The gradual increase in temperature on planet Earth entails a lot of negative consequences, including extinction of some species of animals and the unsuitability of part of a now fertile land for future residence. However, the scientists of the Krasnoyarsk scientific center of RAS and the Research center of NASA have found that global warming is able to revive such a harsh and uninhabited places, such as Siberia. Perhaps in the end of XXI century on this territory will live much more people than now.

At the moment on the territory of Siberia lives only 27% of inhabitants of Russia. This is due to the fact that the average temperature in this region rarely exceeds zero degrees, and 65% of its area is occupied by permafrost, unfit for growing crops. Also in Siberia, relatively little rain, which also creates unfavorable conditions for life.

Siberia will become habitable

To find out how a gradual increase in temperature will affect the region’s harsh conditions, scientists have considered two versions of events. The first is called RCP 2.6 — the researchers suggested that the world reduces emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and temperature rise will be slow. The second scenario, called RCP 8.5 assumes that emissions will increase, and the warming will occur more intensely.

Based on these scenarios, the researchers made some very interesting calculations. So, if humanity seriously undertake the reduction of emissions in the atmosphere by the end of the XXI century, the average January temperature in Siberia will rise by 3.4 degrees, and in July — by 1.9 degrees Celsius. If emissions increase, temperatures in January will increase by 9.1 degrees, and the July — 5.7 degrees Celsius. Average rainfall will increase by 60-140 mm.

In Siberia will increase the population

It turns out that in any case the end of the century Siberia will become a more welcoming place with a moderate temperature and humidity. If now the permafrost-covered 65% of the territory, by 2080 it will be only 40%. Theoretically, with all these favorable factors, the population of Siberia will increase by five times.

The authors note that the habitability of Siberia will increase only if the increase in Russia’s population. At the moment demographers believe that in this century this figure will decrease in 1,5 times.

However, by 2080 humanity may not survive — so, at least, believes Australian group of analysts Breakthrough. According to experts, the civilization now stands on the threshold of destruction, and the critical point will be reached in 2050. To read more about this in our material.

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